Nintendo leads sales with 860 million consoles since 1983

Since the Famicom (known as NES in the West) arrived in Japan in 1983, Nintendo has consistently set milestones in the video game industry. With more than 860 million consoles sold globally, the Japanese company is not only a giant in hardware but also in software, with sales exceeding 5.9 billion video games throughout its history.

In its first quarter financial report for fiscal year 2025-2026, Nintendo revealed that the Nintendo Switch 2 has sold over 8.67 million units in just a few weeks, confirming that the new console is on track to repeat the success of its predecessor.

For its part, the original Nintendo Switch, launched in 2017, has accumulated sales of more than 153 million consoles , positioning itself just 7 or 8 million away from becoming the best-selling console in history, even surpassing the iconic PlayStation 2 .

Nintendo began its dominance with the Famicom, revolutionizing the way we play games. Consoles like the Nintendo DS (154 million), Game Boy & Game Boy Color (118 million), Wii (101 million), and Game Boy Advance (81 million) marked decades of innovation and success.

Each device not only represented a technological leap forward, but also became a cultural symbol with unforgettable games that remain in the memories of millions.

Compared to other major brands, Nintendo maintains a clear lead. Sony PlayStation is in second place with over 643 million consoles sold, followed by Xbox with 196 million and Sega with 113 million .

This dominance is reflected not only in hardware but also in software, where Nintendo has sold nearly 6 billion video games, cementing its reputation as the most influential brand in electronic entertainment.

With recent releases like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza , Nintendo ensures that the success of the Switch 2 is backed by a solid catalog that will appeal to players of all ages.

While it's too early to predict whether it will reach the numbers of the original Switch in eight years, all indications are that strategy and constant innovation will keep Nintendo at the top for a long time.